R schroeder



Feb. 14, 1956 l.. R. ScHROEDl-:R l 2,734,386

RADIO TUNER 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan. 27, 1955 INVENTOR. 6 legge@ Schroeder m, gq/, mm? M United States Patent il Y iiseslie'rl. Shin-onder, Chicago, Ill.;y assignort 1o arwick .Mnnufactuling Corporation,` bafcorporntion oi Delaware -^Ap1sncanmi`rimusry 427,- 1f9ss,1'seriarN0: #314,337 sinonims. CL-744110:)

einvention' .relates to arbeit-driven :mechanism and, ,.fypartieularly, `to'ir n1tsroved manual g means #fina radio itunertalsofhavingpushbutton tuning.

s lnznormalgipractice; fafradio; ftnner havin g 'both vmanual tftmng-fandfpushfbutton tuning -has'a rotatable operating ixhftfwhich cmountswor at *least'driveszthe tuning con- -=1 1 're11se1's. IThis :shaft -`:hasta` releasable fcluteh i thereon arthroughrwhchi a1 driven: `shaft havingm 'drivenIl pulley at `thefflniven ifend VA(drives fzthe f'operatingzrashaft lato effect dhe manual tuning? driven shaft andfitensioning mneansmwhich; unctionsztosmajntin tension .onfithe drliv- ,iringnbelteunifonm .for both".rdiri-,c'ti'ons:Tofv rotation :of'fthe odriyenpulley.

inAnd'ther objeetiseto doatinglyitsupport the' `pulleyt-end mii alle tdrivenf'shaft in' :ai Vmanner zperniittin g limited langu- .f'flartdisplacementfof the 'faxisfof .thef drivenv-'shaftwhile nguidmg'stheirpnlley J-lend c :ofi the: drivens'haft fori limited lateral displacement in a fixed line.'passingfthrough the zieeme'rzlne fof:` the idriven'fshaft fan'drrthe lce'nteri line fof a mu-ol shaftcaxryingn manual itunin'gl knob.

#-A ,anmher x object :..of iithe invention 'is 1 to provide a iazsrotatahlefnperaingsshaft whiohfemountsfer=drives the s'condensers fand which @has fia releasab'le r"clutch ntlmreon nrnay Eflue disengaged :when :'it `is: desi-red '-waadjustathestniiingr ondensers'by'means of push but-ton 'Econtrofl'fzandwheininrnanual tuning "a" drivenfsh `tidis- :posedzparallelitoithecontrolrshaftis provided for ilimi/img rotatablershaft fthir'oughlf saideluteih; the idrlven -fendiof smidedrivenshaftnhaving a1 lpulley engageable'by an f endabymeansrof an elongated' Ebarf'having vila'teral'-ly3piojeet-ing :dingersfhvliich form. a rfb'allff'an'd :tsocketconnection k*with fa bball-shaped 'Send iof "said Idriven L"shaft wdisposd'- within isaid'ipulley, 'the barbeng- -rnountedto` the tunerframe f-.tfor slidingmovementfalongfthe .center line offth'esfbelt which coincidesrwithfainemassin'g throughihe axes of said -fr'cont-rol -and=fd`1iven shafts,:an'd 'spring :means disposed i falongisaidwcenter t :linefnrging fthe v barrandispull'eyi'- end :of the driven shaftrrin-faedirection to 'amaintainfz tensionron .,ithe-drivinglbelt.

Tre- )objectsirofnthe inventionigenerally eet .forth, together Iwith another Aancillary 1 advantages, sare attained tfbyitheeoonstnuction ,rand :arrangement shown tby A1way-of ....illustrariondn -the s accompanying-drawing, finffwhich Isisjea. planlviewfof the radiol tuner; elg.. atfront :elevation-of -the radio rtunen; "Eig 3 .-sf va vf'sidei.v elevation fof Y .the 4radio tuner :looking 2,734,386 Ratented Feb. 14, 19H56 ICC 112 @toward the `right handzfside of the/inner, as'shown dn tFig. 2;

"Fig. 4 -is a fsection taken falong' thei'line 4`4"in' Big. a2; wand,

` Fig. a sectionrtakemalong the lineS--SlinnFiglZ.

VWhilel yths'f :invention fis 'ssceptibleof 'embodimentJ iin :manyffdiiferentforms, -vtheref'sws'hovzniin: the fdrawings and will herein be described infdetail'anxillustrativeiemt bodimentkof theiinventinn'fwith-he understaniling th'attthe present. disclosure -ris :to l:be considered as f an fexempiiication 'of the :principlesofthey invexitionifandiw'is notintended to limitfthe :invention tol thefvernboilimentnillustrated. The scope `fof' thearinventitm Iwill ybe;:p:firited. tout in the appended "claims v VIn tuners fof the fcharacter described lwhich, as Ldislclosed, are lof-fthe'r automobile 1ype;:the tuning. cotlensers (not shown) :areiimountedfon forat .'least' driven "from a rotatable operating `'shaft, a zpcortionfof` -which fiin'ay r@be v:se-enrafl infFig l whichiextnds out romI-the'radiobhassis '1a having' fasteningconneotions '1b. AlFixtd on thisAA shaft is Toneel-ement 12` of-a'ri'ction clutch, Igenerally*designated 3, thezother elementf4i of fwhich` isiffixedI on aih'ol'lw sp'ool 5 :"in trnilraving:fixedtliereon androtata'blelthere- #withtaftpinion 'gear-26. As WilliA presently `be explained7 fthex'pinion vgearf 6 is adapted toi befmanuaillyfdriven -for .manual tuningythis drive includingda zdn'venzshaft 7 having .la .'gertizvat oneend 1meshing 'iw'ith .therpnion sgearf fandfafpu'lley 9i atfahe; otherfrend.

'During psh button. ftning,1-. the :"elntehV 13"1 is. automatiycallyfdisengagech` 'as Lanineident: zt initial lni'cwement-i inf; a tuning button. i-Fihe movementzfotffai-toningibutton shifts actuating lplate to;` thefleft ias4 shownwinI-rB-ig. i l. iTliezplatelhas 'fai'lowerfendfengaggeable between ll .Fig. l. iThepia-tefflil:causesiiniovernent ofthe spooltli i'clutch: element# randfrthe associatedgears r6: 4andSxaxially "to'the 1eft,:1a's viewed rin Fig. l. Thisclut'ch :arrangement lisy 7commonly-:1employed inthe :radio ftunery art.

Thisffelntch arrangement' requires Zthatfthe "shaft 7 Ashafezztprojects inwardly-throughihevheusing .for

the r'centen lin'e betweenI the vupper :andllowen reaches of so as to be centered on the axis of that shaft. At the opposite end, the bar 27 is formed with two laterally, inwardly projecting fingers 28 and 28a which curve around the ball 23 in a close but relatively rotatable fit. At that same end of the bar is a third finger 29 which also projects laterally inwardly and contacts the ball, this finger being spaced inwardly from the fingers 28 and 28a a distance equal to the radius of the ball 13 less one-half the thickness of the fingers 28 and 28a. lntermediate its ends the bar 27 is formed with an elongated slot 30 of major width and a shorter slot 31 of lesser width. The slot of lesser width in particular has its center line extending parallel with the center line of the belt. The slot 31 has a close but sliding tit on the shank of a bolt 32 disposed along the center line of the belt, the head of which has a diameter larger than the width of the slot to guidingly retain the bar on the bolt, but is of lesser diameter than the width of the slot 31) so that the bar may be passed over the head of the bolt by aligning the slot 30 with the bolt 32. Projecting laterally inwardly from the bar 27 at the end of the slot 30 remote from the slot 31 is a fourth finger 33 (Figs. l and 3) to which is anchored one end of a coil tension spring 34, the other end being anchored to a bracket lixed on the radio chassis 1a and which also carries the bolt or rivet 32. The lingers 28, 28a and 29 and 33 are of such length and the point of attachment of the `spring 34 to the bracket 3S is so spaced that the axis of the spring lies on and is coincident with the center line of the belt 26, as is evident in Fig. 2.

It is believed apparent from the foregoing that the bearing for the pulley end of the shaft, being substantially a ball and socket joint, permits free pivoting of the shaft 7 to accommodate the engagement and disengagement of the clutch 3 as an incident to push button tuning. At the same time the pulley end of the shaft 7 is mounted for movement along the center line of the belt 26 and through the action of the tension spring thus maintains tension on the belt. With the spring located with its axis coincident with the center line of the belt, the fact that the pulley 9 is at one time driven clockwise and at another time driven counterclockwise has no inuence on the tension that is maintained on the belt because the bar 27 and the spring 34 provide no moment arm on which these forces can act differently to aid or oppose the pull of the spring.

The pulleys 40, 41, 42 and 43 and belt 44 relate tol the dial mechanism for the radio and form no part of the present invention.

I claim:

l. In a radio tuner of the push-button type and having mechanism for manual tuning, in combination, a chassis adapted to support tuning mechanism, an operating shaft extending outwardly from one side of said chassis, a spool-like member loosely mounted near the outer end of said operating shaft and carrying a pinion gear, a friction clutch having one element fixed to the end of said operating shaft and another element fixed to said member and adapted to be disengaged upon push button operation, and means for manually rotating said operating shaft including a control shaft extending outwardly of said chassis in a direction generally normal to said operating shaft, a driven shaft spaced from and extending parallel to said control shaft, a gear at the driving end of said driven shaft in engagement with said pinion gear, means supporting the driving end of the driven shaft for movement with the pinion Agear in a direction parallel to the operating shaft and also for movement along its length relative to the pinion gcar, a driving pulley on said control shaft and a driven pulley on the driven end of said driven shaft, an endless belt rotatably interconnecting said pulleys, and means supporting said driven shaft for angular movement in response to shifting of the pinion gear upon release of the clutch and for supporting the driven end of the drive shaft for linear movement to maintain belt tension including an elongated bar lying along the line between the axes of the control and driven shafts and having a first end bifurcated and mounted for sliding movement on said control shaft and its other end provided with socket means, the driven end of the drive shaft having a ball located on the center line of the driven pulley which is received in said socket, a headed bolt on the chassis along said line between axes, means defining a slot in said bar intermediate its ends extending lengthwise of the bar and slidably confined on the bolt, and a coil spring having its axis disposed along said line between the axes of the control and driven shafts and connected between the bar and chassis for urging the bar in a direction to maintain the belt tension.

2. In a radio tuner of the push-button type and having mechanism for manual tuning, in combination, a chassis adapted to support tuning mechanism, an operating shaft, a spool-like member loosely mounted near the outer end of said operating shaft, a disengageable friction clutch having one element fixed to said operating shaft and another element iixed to said member, and means for manually rotating said operating shaft including a control shaft extending in a direction generally normal to said operating shaft, a driven shaft having driven and driving ends spaced from and extending parallel to said control shaft and having means at its driving end to rotate said spool-like member, a driving pulley on said control shaft and a driven pulley on the driven end of said driven shaft, an endless belt rotatably interconnecting said pulleys, and means supporting said driven shaft for angular movement in response to disengagement of the clutch and for supporting the driven end of the drive shaft for linear movement to maintain belt tension including an elongated bar lying along the line between the axes of the control and driven shafts and having one end provided with socket means, the driven end of the drive shaft having a ball located on the center line of the driven pulley and which is received in said socket, means slidably mounting the bar on the chassis for movement along said line, and spring means disposed along said line for urging the bar in a direction to maintain the belt tension constant.

3. In a radio tuner of the push-button type and having mechanism for manual tuning, in combination, a chassis adapted to support tuning mechanism, an operating shaft, a spool-like member loosely mounted near the outer end of said operating shaft, a disengageable friction clutch having one element fixed to said operating shaft and another element fixed to said member, and means for manually rotating said operating shaft including a control shaft extending in a direction generally normal to said operating shaft, a driven shaft having driven and driving ends spaced from and extending parallel to said control shaft, means for rotating said spool-like member in response to rotation of the driven shaft, a driving pulley on said control shaft and a driven pulley on the driven end of said driven shaft, an endless belt rotatably interconnecting said pulleys, and means supporting said driven shaft for angular movement in response to disengagement of the clutch and for supporting the driven end of the drive shaft for linear movement to maintain tension including an elongated bar lying along the line between the axes of the controll and driven shafts, a bracket fastened to the chassis, a headed guide bolt on the chassis lying along said line, said bar having a first end bifurcated and mounted for sliding movement on said control shaft and its other end provided with three laterally-extending fmgers forming socket means and a slot intermediate its ends slidably retained by said headed bolt, the driven end of the drive shaft having a ball located along the axis of the driven pulley and which is received in said socket, a tension spring having its axis disposed along said line and connected between said bracket and the bar adjacent the bifurcated end for urging the bar in a direction to space apart the pulleys and ni tintain the belt tension con- Stani.

4. In a radio tuner mechanism, an operating shaft having a releasable clutch mounted at an end thereof, a driven shaft extending normal to said operating shaft having a driving end with a gear thereon and a driven end, means supporting the driving end of said shaft for limited lateral movement with one element of said releasable clutch, a

pulley fixed on the driven end of said driven shaft, a reversibly rotatable control shaft extending generally parallel to and spaced from said driven shaft, a pulley fixed on said control shaft disposed in the same plane as the pulley on said first shaft, an endless belt running around said pulleys, the centerline of the belt coinciding with a line between the axes of the control and driven shaft, and means rotatably supporting the driven end of said driven shaft permitting angular movement of said shaft due to lateral displacement of the driving end thereof and movement of said driven end toward and from said control shaft to maintain said belt under tension including a bearing-forming member guiding the driven end of said driven shaft for movement only in a linear path coinciding with said centerline, and an elongated spring having its axis on said centerline biasing said driven shaft in a direction to place said belt under tension.

5. In a radio tuner mechanism, an operating shaft having a releasable clutch mounted thereon with one element fixed to the shaft and another element movable thereon, a driven shaft extending normal to said operating shaft having a driving end and a driven end, drive connections between said movable clutch element and driven shaft, means supporting the driving end of said shaft for limited lateral movement with the movable element of said releasable clutch, a pulley fixed on the driven end of said driven shaft, a reversibly rotatable control shaft extending generally parallel to and spaced from said driven shaft, a pulley fixed on said control shaft disposed in the same plane as the pulley on said first shaft, an endless driving element running around said pulleys, the centerline of the element coinciding with a line between the axes of the control and driven shaft, and means rotatably supporting the driven end of said driven shaft permitting angular movement of said shaft and movement of said driven end toward and from said control shaft to maintain said element under tension including an elongated member mounted for sliding movement along said line for guiding the driven end of said driven shaft for movement only in a linear path coinciding with said centerline, and a spring having its axis on said centerline biasing said driven shaft in a direction to place said element under tension.

6. In a belt driven mechanism, a first shaft having a driving end and a driven end, means supporting the driving end of said shaft for limited lateral movement, a pulley fixed on the driven end of said shaft, a reversibly rotatable power shaft extending generally parallel with said rst shaft, a pulley fixed on said power shaft disposed in the same plane as the pulley on said first shaft, a belt running around said pulleys, and means rotatably supporting the driven end of said first shaft permitting angular movement of said first shaft due to lateral displacement of the driving end thereof and movement of said driven end toward and from said power shaft along a line extending between the axes of said first shaft and power shaft to maintain said belt'under constant tension including an elongated bar having a bifurcated end slidably mounted on the power shaft, a stationary bracket, a headed bolt member mounted on said bracket to fall on said line, a slot in said bar intermediate its ends slidably confined by said headed bolt for movement along said line, three fingers on the other end of said bar forming a ball-receiving socket, a ball on the driven end of lthe first shaft concentric with the pulley on the first shaft fitted in said socket, and a coil spring extending along said centerline and connected between said bar and bracket biasing said first shaft in a direction to place said belt under tension.

7. In a belt driven mechanism, a driven shaft having a driving end and a driven end, means supporting the driving end of said shaft for limited lateral movement, a pulley fixed on the driven end of said shaft, a reversibly rotatable power shaft extending generally parallel with said driven shaft, a pulley fixed on said power shaft disposed in the same plane as the pulley on said driven shaft, a belt running around said pulleys, and means rotatably supporting the driven end of said driven shaft permitting angular movement of said driven shaft due to lateral displacement of the driving end thereof and movement of said driven end toward and from said power shaft to maintain said belt under tension including a bearing-forming member guiding the driven end of said driven shaft for movement only in a fixed linear path passing through the axis of said power shaft and along the centerline of said belt, and a spring extending along said centerline biasing said driven shaft in a direction to place said belt under tension.

8. In a belt driven mechanism, a first shaft having a driving end and a driven end, means supporting the driving end of said shaft for limited lateral movement, a pulley fixed on the driven end of said shaft, a reversibly rotatable power shaft extending generally parallel with said rst shaft, a pulley fixed on said power shaft disposed in the same plane as the pulley on said first shaft, a belt running around said pulleys, and means rotatably supporting the driven end of said first shaft permitting angular movement of said shaft due to lateral displacement of the driving end thereof and movement of said driven end toward and from said power shaft to maintain said belt under tension including a bearing-forming member guiding the driven end of said first shaft for movement only in a linear path passing through the axis of said po-wer shaft, and a spring biasing said first shaft in a direction to place said belt under tension.

9. ln a radio tuner of the push-button type and having mechanism for manual tuning, in combination, an operating shaft, a disengageable clutch on said shaft having one element fixed to the shaft and another element movable on the shaft, a driven shaft for driving said operating shaft through the clutch, manually operable belt means for rotating the driven shaft, means mounting the driven shaft for angular movement about its driven end, means mounting the driven end of said driven shaft for limited lateral displacement in a straight line, and spring means disposed along said straight line for maintaining tension constant in said belt means.

l0. A device of the type described in claim 9 and having, a manually operable control shaft extending parallel to the driven shaft, and a pulley on each of said control and driven shafts disposed in a common plane, said belt means running around the pulleys.

ll. In a belt driven mechanism, a first shaft having a driving end and a driven end, a pulley fixed on the driven end of said shaft, a reversibly rotatable power shaft extending generally vertical with said first shaft, a pulley fixed on said power shaft disposed in the same plane as the pulley on said first shaft, a belt running around said pulleys, and means rotatably supporting the driven end of said first shaft permitting movement of said driven end toward and from said power shaft to maintain said belt under tension including an elongated bar having a bearing-forming member supporting the driven end of the first shaft, means guiding the elongated bar for sliding movement in a straight line extending between the axis of the first shaft and power shaft, and a tension spring acting on said bar to bias said first shaft in a direction to place said belt under tension.

No references cited. 

